One of the most expensive waterfront listings on Balboa Peninsula has attracted quite a buzz, not only for its $44.9 million price tag, but also for promotional music video “Teach Me How to Duffy”—a parody of the 2011 “Teach Me How to Dougie” by Los Angeles-based hip-hop group Cali Swag District.
The roughly four-minute video highlighting the mansion at 1813 E. Bay Ave., shows Cali Swag members learning how to “duffy” from a group of Newport Beach locals, who rap about the home and area amenities.
It’s a play on the ubiquitous Duffy electric boats in Newport Harbor.
You can fit a few Duffys, and a yacht or two, at the property.
The 12,867-square-foot home is spread over three lots and has five bedrooms and seven bathrooms. A 57-foot swimming pool with underwater speakers overlooks about 90 feet of beach frontage and a newly built dock accommodating at least four vessels.
Listing agent Tim Smith of Coldwell Banker, who also raps in the video, said it’s “unusual for a Newport Beach property to have so much dock space, which is a coveted feature in this community.”
The home has two bars, two kitchens, an office, craft room, theater, gym and sauna. There’s also a 1,100-gallon aquarium, a glass elevator, five-car garage with electric vehicle plug-ins, and Panasonic solar panels.
Records show Craig Atkins, chairman of Irvine-based homebuilder City Ventures (see separate story, page 3), purchased the property in 2014 for $11.5 million.
A rebuild of the home was designed by architect Robert Sinclair, constructed by Patterson Custom Homes, and finished by Blackband Design.
The music video cost more than $50,000 to produce, including the rappers’ fee. Since launching on Oct. 4, it was viewed more than 73,000 times in its first two weeks.
Designer’s Touch
Famed Newport Beach interior designer Barclay Butera is thinking even bigger when it comes to helping clients.
He partnered with Waterpointe Custom Home Builders in Newport Beach and former Surterre Properties agent Eliisa Stowell and her team last month to launch boutique real estate firm Barclay Butera Properties.
The new agency, at 2435 E. Coast Highway, offers a full suite of services, such as interior design, construction and development, and homebuyer and seller assistance.
Butera said that gives the firm a competitive edge over other brokerage firms.
“We are able offer a full service and turn-key approach to real estate,” he said in a statement. “We can buy, sell and create homes that are truly both custom and move-in ready.”
Stowell said the opportunity to join Butera and Waterpointe fit her vision of finding ways to help clients with more than just buying and selling.
“It’s not just real estate,” she said. “It’s the whole experience—helping them find a hairdresser or doctor or dry-cleaner, and [Barclay Butera Properties] is just an extension of that.”
Stowell added that the firm may be new but that each partner brings years of experience in his or her respective industries.
There are six agents, and the agency will hire additional team members, according to Stowell.
“We’re a young company, but we have a lot of history,” she said. “The agents that have chosen to be within Barclay are super-motivated, energetic and driven, so we’re looking for someone that fits into that culture.”
Wood and Stone
A Newport Coast mansion at 7 Pelican Vista Drive with views of Newport Harbor is available for $34 million.
The 11,605-square-foot estate includes 3,000 square feet of covered loggias. The interior has extensive woodwork, stone flooring, and finishes throughout.
Built in 2003, it has six bedrooms and seven bathrooms, a theater, billiards room, multiple spas, heated floors and a security system.
The home is tied to San Jose-based semiconductor manufacturer Spectra7 Microsystems Inc. Chief Executive Raouf Halim, who purchased it in 2000.
Halim co-founded and was chief executive of 3D video company icClarity Inc. in Irvine. Before that, he served as chief executive of Newport Beach-based networking chipmaker Mindspeed Technologies Inc.
Rex McKown and Marcy Weinstein of Surterre Properties have the listing.
